Page 86 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

She gave me a smile, then turned her head so her ear was up again.

“Thank you,” she said so softly I almost didn’t hear it.

“For what?”

“For staying.” With that she closed her eyes and snuggled into the pillow.

I needed to know that she would be honest with me, no matter what, and while this wasn’t the best moment, it might be the only one I ever got. “Brooke?”

“Hmm?” Her eyes opened, and she looked up at me.

“Will you promise me something?”

Brooke made a face. “Promises are dangerous.”

“Are they?”

“Yes.”

“Then can I ask you for something?”

“Go ahead.”

I cleared my throat before I spoke. “I get the feeling you don’t like it when people interfere with you and your life.”

She nodded but said nothing.

My fingers continued to lace through her hair. “If I ever say or do something that you don’t like, will you tell me?”

Brooke chuckled. “You think I wouldn’t?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. I didn’t know her as well as I’d like to. Not yet. Carlotta had never told me she thought I was looking at other women. I didn’t think I had been, but if she would have brought it up, we might have had an easier separation.

“Well, here’s one guideline you can follow, never do me any favors.”

I frowned. “That’s a broad statement. Wouldn’t helping you clean off outside be considered a favor?”

Brooke pursed her lips. “It could, but I asked you to.”

I hadn’t given her much of a choice, but I wasn’t about to bring that up right now.

Brooke went on. “I’m talking about going behind my back to do something for me because you don’t think I can do it.”

I wasn’t sure I totally understood, but that would give me a place to start. “I’ll do my very best.”

“And I’ll let you know when you do something I don’t like.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you.” I couldn’t have stopped playing with her hair even if it had been on fire, and I kept rubbing her arm in the hope that she would get warm.

She didn’t answer, and a moment later, her breathing deepened, indicating she was asleep.

I looked down at the most beautiful woman that I’d ever known, and I wondered if this moment could last forever.

Could it go beyond this day? This week? Would our connection dissolve the moment I went back to New York?

I didn’t want that.

Even though I knew I didn’t deserve a chance with Brooke, I wanted it. I wanted it so badly that I was tempted to call Courtney and tell her that she’d been correct. That there was a woman, and that I was falling for her, and it would be wonderful if Courtney could cover for me for two more weeks.

---